DAY 96 WED. SEPT. 14, 2011
AM SEAS CALM CLOUDY COOL AM/PM SHOWERS
DEP HAMMOND 09:00 ARR. JOLIET 4:20
D. 47.4 sm / 1757
Today is the beginning of an entirely different segment of the Great Loop, and one that is a totally different kind of boating than we have experienced before. For roughly 1300 miles we will be cruising the rivers from Chicago IL to Mobile AL. The good news was that for now we were going to travel with Theresa and Don from GREAT ESCAPE. They are very capable and experienced cruisers, and this is their second time doing the loop. In addition to that, they are fun to be with. I always feel more comfortable cruising with another boat so this is great for us. We left Hammond after a fuel fill for the short trip to the CalSag Canal. By far the most industrial area we have been in, including the Harlem R. in the Bronx. We went under countless bridges, thru the T.J. Obrien lock (2’drop), more bridges, another lock, an electric fish barrier, and more low bridges. All this while meeting and overtaking tows. Tows are any tug towing OR pushing more than 1 barge. They usually push up to a dozen in the IL. River. The fish barrier is an area of the canal that is electrified to keep the Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. In going thru the barrier we were only allowed to go in 1 boat at a time. When exiting that boat would call on the radio and the next boat in the queue would go. The fun part is maintaining your position without hitting anything. When we got to Joliet we had to go under 5 bridges with a clearance of 16’ Fortunately Glory Days has an air draft with it’s mast down of about 15’7”, so we made it OK, but just barely. Joliet provided us with a nice free wall tie up with electric, but no water. Shortly after we arrived several other Loopers arrived. We helped them tie up, but declined invitations to join them at the casino for dinner as we were tired and wanted to get an early start. We did not see much of Joliet.
AM SEAS CALM CLOUDY COOL AM/PM SHOWERS
DEP HAMMOND 09:00 ARR. JOLIET 4:20
D. 47.4 sm / 1757
Today is the beginning of an entirely different segment of the Great Loop, and one that is a totally different kind of boating than we have experienced before. For roughly 1300 miles we will be cruising the rivers from Chicago IL to Mobile AL. The good news was that for now we were going to travel with Theresa and Don from GREAT ESCAPE. They are very capable and experienced cruisers, and this is their second time doing the loop. In addition to that, they are fun to be with. I always feel more comfortable cruising with another boat so this is great for us. We left Hammond after a fuel fill for the short trip to the CalSag Canal. By far the most industrial area we have been in, including the Harlem R. in the Bronx. We went under countless bridges, thru the T.J. Obrien lock (2’drop), more bridges, another lock, an electric fish barrier, and more low bridges. All this while meeting and overtaking tows. Tows are any tug towing OR pushing more than 1 barge. They usually push up to a dozen in the IL. River. The fish barrier is an area of the canal that is electrified to keep the Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. In going thru the barrier we were only allowed to go in 1 boat at a time. When exiting that boat would call on the radio and the next boat in the queue would go. The fun part is maintaining your position without hitting anything. When we got to Joliet we had to go under 5 bridges with a clearance of 16’ Fortunately Glory Days has an air draft with it’s mast down of about 15’7”, so we made it OK, but just barely. Joliet provided us with a nice free wall tie up with electric, but no water. Shortly after we arrived several other Loopers arrived. We helped them tie up, but declined invitations to join them at the casino for dinner as we were tired and wanted to get an early start. We did not see much of Joliet.
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| NORTH BOUND TOW EXITING FISH BARRIER |
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| BARGES WAITING TO BE LOADED |
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| MEETING ON 2 WHISTLES |
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| THIS IS WHAT THE UNDERSIDE OF A BRIDGE LOOKS LIKE CLOSE UP |
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